As Troops Continue to Deploy to the Middle East, the USO is Providing Boots-on-the-Ground Support

By Brittany Laursen

From Jordan to Qatar to Saudi Arabia and remote, undisclosed sites, the USO is showing up wherever service members are in the Middle East – and no matter the conditions.

“We’re not just providing support from the outside,” said Lucy, a USO staff member in Jordan. “We are here with them, going through it alongside them.”

For men and women forward deployed to Jordan, the USO is always nearby providing much-needed support, even during moments of uncertainty and heightened tension. USO staff who live throughout the region provide a sense of normalcy during challenging moments, and service member volunteers step in to help when the USO can’t physically be there.

For service members forward deployed to Jordan, the USO is always close by, providing steady support and a sense of normalcy during uncertain and challenging moments. | Photo credit USO Photo

Even in remote locations, USO teams travel to visit service members wherever they’re working and bring supplies like snacks and coffee to keep them fueled, toiletries to ensure they have the essentials, as well as activities and a smiling face to boost morale. In the high-tempo environment of a deployment, having these brief moments of respite can help service members recharge and prepare for the mission ahead. From cooking and delivering hot meals for service members during long duty days, to bringing provisions into bunkers when alarms sound, the USO is always there in the moments they need us most.

“If someone ends up in a bunker with one of our teammates, there is still something to offer,” Lucy said. “A snack, a conversation, sometimes even a laugh. These moments have mattered more than usual.”

How the USO Provides Deployed Service Members with the Essentials

For some troops who recently deployed, they were only given 24 hours’ notice, leaving them with limited time to pack and prepare before quickly jumping on a plane. After arriving, some service members may have realized that they had forgotten or run out of basic essentials like shampoo and toothpaste. And that’s where the USO came in: with bags of toiletries in-hand, as soon as troops landed.

For many service members, the first priority after arrival is a call home. At USO Centers around the world, free Wi-Fi, phones and computers ensure they can connect with loved ones right away. | Photo credit USO Photo

For some service members, the first thing they wanted to do upon arrival was call home and check in with their loved ones. For those transiting through locations with a USO location nearby, our Centers were prepared – as always – with free Wi-Fi, phones and computers for service members to use, at no charge. While some people might be able to go without some basic necessities in their packs, that first phone call home after arriving in a new country is often a must for deployed service members.

“Our team got out to the sites early to understand what that actually looked like,” said Lucy, explaining how USO teams traveled to undisclosed locations to evaluate the conditions of the possible needs of the service members deployed there. “What we found were service members doing their best in places that were still being built around them. So, we adjusted quickly.”

That adjustment meant getting supplies where they were needed most – and fast. USO teams drove across the country delivering USO Care Packages and USO2GO kits to sites with limited resources. They brought USO programs and activities with them, including the USO Reading Program, giving service members a chance to connect with loved ones back home through shared bedtime stories, even from the most remote locations. Whatever service members needed, USO staff made a point to resupply along the way to have items at-the-ready, including things as basic as socks and bars of soap. But providing these resources is more than ensuring these deployed service members have the supplies they need – it also shows them that someone cares about the challenges they are facing.

“Sometimes, the impact isn’t a big program. It’s sitting with someone and making sure they know they’re not alone,” Lucy said.

How the USO Delivers Morale Boosts to the Front Lines

Care packages and essential toiletries are not the only way to support deployed service members – the USO also provides activities that allow troops to take a break from the intense pace of deployment. In these moments of respite, the people who serve in these locations can recharge, rest and prepare themselves for what lies ahead.

USO teams throughout Jordan have brought all the supplies needed to host events like gaming tournaments, karaoke and bingo at various military bases. At the same time, the USO team in Jordan has adapted and made changes to the USO Center permanently located there to meet growing demand. With more service members arriving and many living in conditions with limited internet connectivity, the Center expanded its offerings, staying open seven days a week with extended hours to ensure amenities remained accessible to these deployed troops.

Across the Middle East, USO teams are traveling to remote sites with fresh food, supplies and a boost of morale to keep service members fueled, supported and mission-ready. | Photo credit USO Photo

“At the end of the day, our role has been simple,” said Lucy. “Be there. Stay consistent. Make sure service members know someone is in their corner.”

Beyond Jordan, USO teams across the Middle East have continued to reach service members at remote sites, many of which were rapidly established with urgent needs. USO staff members in Qatar and Saudi Arabia regularly travel to meet service members with cookies, energy drinks, burgers and anything else they might need to stay fueled and ready.

From distributing hygiene kits to hosting fun events like bingo and trivia, the USO ensures service members have both essential resources and a reminder of home. Time and time again, as USO teams arrive on site, the reaction from service members is immediate: “When we see the USO coming, we know something good is about to happen.”

In challenging times, these moments can make all the difference.